Labour to set up new extremism whistleblowing service for university staff 09. March 2026 (01:01) Minister announces action plan to boost social cohesion that will also give regulator powers to shut down charitiesThe UK government will expand powers to tackle extremism by setting up a new whistleblowing route for university staff and giving the Charity Commission powers to shut down charities, as part of a new action plan to strengthen social cohesion.The plan, announced by the housing, communities and local government secretary, Steve Reed, will invest a further £5m in the Common Ground Resilience Fund, which was launched to support organisations and authorities tackling divisions in communities. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Cancer death rate in Britain down by almost a third since 1980s 09. March 2026 (01:01) Huge improvements in prevention, diagnosis and treatment have driven the fall, Cancer Research UK saysThe rate of people dying from cancer in the UK has fallen by almost a third since the 1980s amid seismic progress in prevention, diagnosis and treatment, a report has found.About 247 in every 100,000 people die from cancer each year, a 29% drop from the peak in 1989 of about 355 per 100,000, according to an analysis by Cancer Research UK (CRUK). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
NHS England pauses new referrals for masculinising or feminising hormone treatment in under-18s 09. March 2026 (01:01) Review finds evidence does not back use of treatment for 16 and 17-year-olds with gender incongruence or dysphoriaThe NHS is pausing new referrals for masculinising or feminising hormone treatment for 16 and 17-year-olds after an in-depth review found there was insufficient evidence to support its continued use.Prescriptions for hormones had been available in England for under-18s with a diagnosis of gender incongruence or dysphoria who met certain criteria. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Britain’s job market ‘floundering’ as companies remain cautious about hiring 09. March 2026 (01:01) Data shows labour market is still in a fragile position due to economic uncertainty, with few signs of recoveryBritain’s jobs market is “floundering” amid weak hiring demand, with only limited signs of recovery, data has revealed.Companies remain cautious about hiring staff amid cost pressures and economic uncertainty, according to two reports released on Monday. They show the labour market continues to be in a fragile position. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rare items of Charles Dickens’ clothing to go on display in London 09. March 2026 (01:01) Exhibition includes linen shirt collar from when author suffered a fatal stroke along with other personal itemsRare surviving items of Charles Dickens’ clothing, including the linen shirt collar worn by the writer when he suffered his fatal stroke in 1870, are to go on display.Other items being exhibited include Dickens’ black silk stockings – part of his only surviving suit – as well as personal effects and items related to his personal grooming, including a set of six silver razors used for his daily shave, a perfume bottle, silver candle snuffers and a gold locket, containing photos and locks of hair from Dickens and his son, Henry. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Quiz books are the answer to falling non-fiction sales, data shows 09. March 2026 (01:01) 2025 was the best year for quiz book sales since records began in 1998; while Bibles also proved popularIf the question is which genre bucked the prevailing trend in publishing to record a remarkable rise in readership last year, the answer is clear: quiz books.Spending on the titles increased by nearly a quarter in 2025, data from NielsenIQ BookData suggests. It was the best year for quiz books since records began in 1998, according to the company, which manages the ISBN and SAN agencies for the UK and Ireland. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
